clark



(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

J.T .0LARK. MAILING ENVELOPE.

Patented Sept. 5, 1893.

2 4 2. In; a.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MAILING-ENVELOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,560, dated September 5, 1893.

Application filed August 9, 1892. Serial No. 442,547. (No specimens.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. CLARK, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Mailing-Envelope, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in envelopes, especially to that class designed for use in transporting through the mail seed catalogues, samples of merchandise, and other articles. I

The object of the invention is to construct the envelope from a single piece of material, and to so shape the material at its mouth that a secure locking engagement may be effected at that point in a convenient and expeditious manner.

A further feature of the invention is that by reason of the said locking engagement at the mouth, the mouth of the envelope will be closed so completely as to preclude the possibrlity of articles escaping when inclosed by the envelope, and yet will provide for the ready opening of the closed envelope at its mouth whenever it is desirable to do so.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the envelope, the mouth thereof being closed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the envelope is constructed. Fig. 3 illustrates the appearance of the envelope after the first manipulation of the blank. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the sides of the envelope disconnected, the formation of the inner pocket and the partial formation of the outer pocket. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the envelope with the side pieces folded one upon the other and the side and bottom flaps in position, the outer pocket being shown in rear elevation and as partially formed. Fig. 6 is a central vertical section through the envelope shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the envelope, the sides opened up and illustrating the complete formation of both of the pockets. Fig. Sis a central vertical section through the completed envelope, the

pockets being out of locking engagement.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form, in which both pockets are exteriorly located. Fig. 10 is a central vertical section taken through the envelope shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a central vertical section through the envelope when shaped as shown in Fig. 3, the said view illustrating the adaptability of that form of envelope for the transportation and inclosure of articles.

The prime feature of thisinvention may be said to consist in forming pockets at opposite sides of the mouth of the envelope, and producing a means whereby one pocket may be carried into locking engagement with the other. Both pockets may be located exteriorly upon the body of the envelope, or one of them may be interiorly placed. In the drawings envelopes have been illustrated showing both of the above-named applications of the pockets, and that form of envelope in which one pocket is within the mouth will be first described in detail. Both forms of the envelope are made from the same shaped blank, the difference existing only in the manner of folding the material at the mouth.

The blank A is shown in detail in Fig. 2, and maybe made from any material. Paper, however, is usually employed. In outline the blank closely approaches a rectangular figure; one side, however, is projected outward from the true bottom line to a point usually located between the center and top of the blank, forming thereby a flap 10. A shorter and similar bottom flap 11, is formed in like manner at the bottom edge of the blank, extending from the side flap to a point at or near the center of the said bottom edge. The formation of the blank is completed by producing a longitudinal slot 12 in the top at its central portion, the inner end of the cut being practically in transverse alignment with the upper edge of the side fiap 10. Ordinarily the ends of both side and bottom flaps are somewhat beveled.

The first step in the formation of the envelope is accomplished by folding the blank longitudinally upon itself from top to bottom at the cut 12. This operation will bring the true side edges of the body of the blank one over the other, and the body of the envelope is completely formed when the side and bottom flaps 10 and 11, are carried over the edges of the folded section of the blank and gummed or otherwise secured to the outer face of that section, as illustrated in Fig. 3. As a result of the above operation the body of the envelope is produced, designated as B, open at its top, and two upper flaps 13 and 14, are formed, one at each side of the month, they being continuations of the sides of the body. An envelope of this form may be advantageously used in connection with pamphlets, books, catalogues, circulars, cards, tablets and kindred articles, as shown in Fig. 11, the article or articles being held in place within the body of the envelope, and the mouth of the envelope closed by folding the flaps 13 and 14: downwardly and inwardly among or upon the articles, as is likewise clearly shown in the said Fig. 11.

When the envelope is to be made with inter-locking pockets, the body flaps 10 and 11 are not cemented to the sides until one or both pockets have been formed. The inner pocket- D, is produced by folding the upper flap 13 downward upon the inner face of the side of the envelope to which it belongs, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The flap is then bent upward at its lower corner upon oppositelydisposed diagonal lines, forming two sub-flaps 15 and 16, the upper edges of which will be parallel, or practically so, with the upper edge of the body B. The sub-flaps 15 and 16 are carried one over the other, and are connected by paste, cement, or any suitable form of fastening device or devices. WVhen the pocket is constructed as above set forth it is essentially of a triangular shape, the mouth (Z being at its top, which is its widest portion.

It is desirable that-the pocket throughout its length and width should be secured to a side of the body of which it is a member, and this attachment is effected through the medium of a cement of any character. The construction of this side of the envelope is completed by securing to the outer wall of the pocket a tab 17, of a pliable metal, and said tab is of a length enabling it to extend above the pocket or down into the same.

The second pocket E, is formed from the upper flap 14 while in an upright position. In the construction of this pocket the upper corners are carried outward and downward upon the body of the flap on oppositely-disposed, diagonal lines, producing, as in the formation of the pocket D two over-lapping sub-flaps 18 and 19, the sub-flaps being securely connected. The pocket E is now of the same shape as the pocket D, but the mouth 6 of the pocket E, is located at its lower end, which is the widest portion of the pocket, but at the upper edge of the side of the envelope of which it is a member, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

As the pocket E, is adapted to enter the pocket D, the former is made slightly narrower than the latter, and is reinforced or stifiened at its bottom or contracted portion, the reinforcement being preferably accomplished by folding the contracted end of the pocket outward and downward until its point practically touches the outer edge of the mouth 6, and this reinforcing section 20, is cemented to the outer face of the pocket, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

In the operation of closing the envelope after the body has been filled to the extent desired, the pocket E, is carried downward and inward in such a manner as to enter it into the inner pocket D, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, and after one pocket has been made to fully enter the other, the tab 17, is bent over the edge of the uppermost pocket adjacent to it and downward into the pocket to a firm engagement with the wall thereof. By this means a firm, secure and positive lock is obtained at the top of the envelope and one pocket is held in the other, completely closing the mouth of the envelope until the fastening device is removed and one pocket is taken from the other to purposely disclose the contents of the envelope.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a slight modification of the above-described envelope is illustrated. The only difference existing between the two forms consists in the fact that the pocket D, instead of being formed inside of the envelope is formed upon its outer side and secured thereto. The formation of the pocket D in the modification is identical with the formation of the corresponding pocket referred to in the body of the specification, the difference in position being created by carrying the flap 13 from which the pocket is made downward and outward instead of downward and inward.

In the modified form of the device the mouth of the envelope is not in the least obstructed, while in the form of the envelope described in the body of the specification the pocket being located within the body is concealed, and both side faces of the envelope are left smooth.

I desire it to be distinctly understood that the mouth of the envelope and its pockets may be located at one side of the body instead of at one end, and that the pocket may be given other shapes than a triangular one. A coating, or two different pieces of material pasted together such as paper and tin, making one piece of material, can also be used in construction.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An envelope blank consisting in the rectangular sheet A having a vertical slit 12 in the middle of its upper edge in line with the fold and forming two extensions or flaps adapted to fold and form pockets, a flap extension 10 along one side edge of the sheet from a point about in line with the lower end of the slit and adapted to be folded to close the side of the bag opposite the side formed by folding the blank and a bottom-closing flap extension 11 along the lower edge of the sheet from a point about in line with slit 12 to the side edge of the sheet which has the extension 12, substantially as set forth.

2. An envelope formed at one edge of its mouth with an upwardly opening pocket and along the opposite edge of its mouth with a downwardly opening pocket to fold over the mouth of the envelope and. into the said upwardly opening pocket, substantially as set forth.

3. An envelope formed at the edges of its mouth with flaps 13, 14 respectively, each flap being folded at the corners as shown at 15, 16, and 18, 19 respectively forming pocketsD E, one of the said pockets being folded upon the body of the envelope with its mouth opening upwardly and the other having its mouth opening downwardly and adapted to fold within the other pocket, substantially as shown and described.

at. An envelope provided along one edge of its mouth with a stationary upwardly opening pocket provided with a fastening tongue projecting above the outer side of its mouth, and a downwardly opening pocket on the opposite edge of the envelope mouth to fold within the other pocket; whereupon the said tongue may be bent over the free edge of the folding pocket, substantially as set forth.

5. An envelope provided along the edges of its mouth with two permanently formed pockets, one pocket opening upwardly and the other downwardly the apex of the latterpoeket being folded over and connected thereto and forming the stiffening section 20 to fold with said pocket into the upwardly opening pocket, substantially as set forth.

6. A mailing envelope, comprising a body portion provided with a pocket formed at one side of its mouth, the mouth of the pocket being at its upper edge, a pliable tab or tongue located at the mouth of the fixed pocket, the said body portion being provided at the opposite side of its mouth with a downwardly opening folding pocket to fold within the fixed pocket and the tab or tongue to hold the two pockets in interlocking engagement, closing the mouth of the envelope, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a mailing envelope, the combination, with the body portion thereof and a pocketformed at one side at the mouth, the mouth of the pocket facing outward or upward, and a pliable tab or tongue secured to the envelope adjacent to the mouth of the fixed pocket, of a folding pocket at the side of the body opposite that at which the fixed pocket is located, with its opening facing downward, the two pockets being of essentially the same shape, and the folding pocket being reinforced at what is normally its upper end, which end is adapted to enter the fixed pocket, whereby one pocket will be contained within the other and the tab may be carried over the edges of both pockets and into the inner pocket, as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN T. CLARK.

XVitnesses:

CARL F. ANDERSON, WILLIAM BoWERY. 

